Hasan-i Sabbah

Hasan-i Sabbah, also known as Hasan I of Alamut, was a prominent religious and military leader who founded the Nizari Ismaili sect and the infamous Order of Assassins. His leadership spanned from the year 1090 to 1124 AD, during which he established the Nizari Ismaili state, a significant political entity of its time.

In addition to his political acumen, Sabbah was a distinguished scholar, particularly in the fields of mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy. His expertise in geometry and epistemology set him apart as a thinker of his era. Notably, he shared a close friendship with the renowned Persian polymath Omar Khayyam during their student years, highlighting his connections with other intellectuals of the time.

Hasan-i Sabbah and the leaders of the Order of Assassins became known in the West as the 'Old Man of the Mountain,' a title popularized by the traveler Marco Polo. This moniker referred to their stronghold at the commanding fortress of Alamut Castle, which served as a base for their operations and a symbol of their power.